Folding furniture



Dec. 20, 1960 Filed Sept. 18, 1956 A. E. FRIDOLPH FOLDING FURNITURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 bee. 20, 1960 A. E. FRlDOLPH 2,965,159

FOLDING FURNITURE Filed Sept. 18, 1956 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BYZ 214/ V ATTOR Dec. 20, 1960 L H 2,965,159

FOLDING FURNITURE Filed Sept. 18, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Hwy 7725 Ewan; PH

BY Zn ATTORY United States Patent O FOLDING FURNITURE Annette E. Fridolph, 77 Park Ave., New York, N .Y.

Filed Sept. 18, 1956, Ser. No. 610,581

6 Claims. (Cl. 155153) This invention relates to furniture and more specifically to articles of furniture generally intended for outdoor use such as back rests, chairs, tables and the like adapted to be folded into a relatively compact form for carriage and storage and to novel and improved means coordinated with such articles for securing them in open and closed positions.

Many items of furniture designed for outdoor use are arranged to be folded so they can be easily carried from place to place and will occupy little space when not in use. In the case of many items, difficulties have been encountered in providing adequate means for holding the collapsible elements in both the open and closed positions. To avoid excessive costs, known types of back rests are held in the open position by ties or by frictional contact with the ground and ties are also used to hold the elements in the collapsed or folded position. With chairs and tables the probiem has been to hold the article in the folded position. While relatively expensive hooks and latches have been used in the case of tab es, chairs on the other hand have generally been made with sufficient friction between the elements to retain the elements in either the open or closed position. This procedure has not been found to be entirely satisfactory as the elements become loose and difficulty is then encountered in retaining them in the folded position for carriage.

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior articles of furniture and has as one of its objects the provision of means forming part of the article itself and serving both to strengthen the article and to hold the article in the closed position or both the open and closed positions as the case may be.

Another object of the invention resides in an improved back rest for beach and other uses characterized by a novel and improved arrangement and coordination of elements wherein certain of the structural members also operate to hold the structure in the open and closed positions and in addition form convenient carrying means therefor.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved folding chair embodying certain structural elements arranged to cooperate one with the other to hold the chair in the folded position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved device for holding articles of folding furniture in the closed or folded position and at the same time form a structural part of the article itself.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved latch structure.

The above and other objects and advantages will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a back rest embodying the invention and 7 showing the elements fixed in the open position with parts of the covering material broken away to expose the structural details thereof; a

2,965,159 Patented Dec. 20, 1960 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the frame member of Fig. l in the partially collapsed position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the frame member of Fig. 2 in the fully collapsed position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the back rest of Fig. 1 substantially fully collapsed and about to be secured in the collapsed position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fragmentary part of Fig. 4 showing the movable elements of the back rest secured in the collapsed or folded position;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the back rest shown in Figs. 1 through 5 with the several elements in the extended position;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the line 7-7 thereof to illustrate the cooperation of the frame members to hold the back rest in the open position;

Fig. 7A is a cross sectional view of Fig. 7 taken along the lines 7A-7A;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 7 taken along the line 8-8 thereof;

Figs. 9 through 12 are perspective views of a fragmentary portion of the frame parts as shown in Figs. 7 and illustrating the steps in unlocking the frame elements for moving the elements from the open to the closed or folded position;

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the line 13--13 thereof;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 4 taken along the line 1414 thereof;

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 5 taken along the line 1515 thereof;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a folding chair embodying locking means in accordance with the invention;

Figure 17 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 16 with the chair in the partially collapsed position;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view of the chair shown in Figs. 16 and 17 secured in the folded position;

Figure 19 is a perspective view of a table embodying the invention;

Figure 20 is a perspective view of the table of Fig. 19 secured in the collapsed position; and

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to the back rest 10 forming one embodiment of the invention and illustrated in Figs. 1 through 15, it comprises broadly three separate frame members 11, 12 and 13.

The frame member 11 is generally rectangular in shape and is formed by two sets of parallel members 14, 15 and 16, 17. While this frame may be fabricated in any desired manner, it is preferable to use a pair of collars 18 disposed at the ends of the transverse member 16 for structural reasons that will be described more fully. In the event the frame member 11 is formed of a single bar or strip of material, the ends of the material can be mechanically joined by one of the collars 18.

The frame member 12 which forms the back supporting portion of the back rest 10 is also of rectangular configuration. The principal portion of this member is generally U-shaped and includes a pair of parallel elements or legs 19 and 20 and an outer transverse element 21. The frame member 12 is pivotally connected to the frame member 11 by curving the ends of the parallel elements 19 and 20 about the transverse element 16 of the frame 11 adjoining the outer edges of the collars 18 as indicated at 22 and 23. In order to provide adequate rigidity for the frame diagonal members 24 and 25 are provided. The diagonal member 24 is preferably formed integrally with the parallel frame element 19 and is secured to the opposing end of the outer transverse element 21 by means of an eye 26. The diagonal member 25 is similar:

1y formed integrally with the frame element 20 and is secured to the other end of the transverse element 21 by an eye 27. With this arrangement the collars 18 function to hold the curved portions or eyes 22 and 23 in spaced relationship so that movement along the axis of the rod 16 forming part of the frame member 11 is prevented. The lower ends of the diagonal members 24 and 25 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are held in spaced relationship by the action of the frame member 13 now to be described.

The frame member 13 is also of U-shaped construction and includes a pair of parallel rods or elements 28 and 29 and an outer transverse element 30. The outer ends of the parallel rods 28 and 29 are bent upon themselves as denoted by the numerals 28' and 29' to form hook like portions for the reception of the transverse element 21 as shown in Fig. 1. With this arrangement the transverse element 31 is actually disposed inwardly f the outer ends of the parallel elements 28 and 29 and forms part of the means for holding the back rest in the open position shown in Fig. 1.

In addition to the curved hook like portions 28' and 29 on the frame member 13 the frame member 12 is provided with a curved portion 21' formed by displacing a portion of the transverse element 21 out of line with the remainder of the element. With this arrangement when the member 21 is engaged in the curved hook like portions 28' and 29 of the frame element 13 the transverse element 311 of the frame member 13 may be snapped over the curved or displaced portion 21' to hold the back rest in the open position as shown in Fig. 1.

In addition to the three frame elements 11, 12 and 13, a covering is provided for the back rest which comprises a section of tubular material 31 enclosing the frame sections 11 and 12 and a single layer of material 32 supported by the frame section 13. The disposition of this material about the several frame members may be more clearly observed in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

In order to collapse the back rest as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 13 the elements 21 and 30 are disengaged as shown in Fig. 2 and the frame member 13 is moved upwardly inside the frame member 12 whereupon the frame member 12 is brought inwardly toward the frame member 11 with the several members assuming the position as shown in Fig. 3. When the frame members are in the collapsed position the displaced portion 21 of the element 21 is snapped over the element 17 to hold the assembly in the closed position as shown in Fig. 3. In actual practice, however, the back rest is turned end for end to assume the position shown in Figs. 4 and 14. With the back rest in the position shown in Fig. 4 the frame elements 21 and 30 are locked one to the other as shown in Figs. and 15. When the several members of the back rest are folded in the manner previously described the outer covering member 31 forms a pair of pockets because of the tubular construction of the material and the openings of these pockets are denoted by the numerals 33 and 34.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the locking means functions to secure the back rest both in the open and in the closed positions and addition cooperates with other elements of the structure to attain the desired rigidity for the frame.

The operation of the locking means for holding the several frame members in the open position isshown more clearly in Figs. 7 through 12, inclusive. In Fig. 7 it will be observed that when the frame elements 21 and 30 are in the locked position the element 30 functions both as part of the frame member 13 and as spacing means to hold the lower ends of the diagonal members 24 and 25 in the outermost positions. In this way the diagonal members cannot move when lateral pressure is applied to the frame and thus imparts to the frame substantial rigidity. Moreover, the engagement of the members 2-1 and 30 hold the hook portions 28' and 29' in engagement to the outer ends of the member 21 so they cannot be displaced in normal use of the back rest. This feature may be observed more clearly in Figs. 7A and 8.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the engagement of the frame elements 21 and 30 when the back rest is in the open position. To disengage the elements 21 and 30 the element 21 is snapped over the displaced portion or latch 21 of the element 21 as shown in Fig. 10. The element 30 is then moved to the left as indicated by the arrow until the hook parts 28 and 29' clear the member 21 as shown in Fig. 11. The frame member 13 is then moved downwardly beneath the frame member 12 as shown in Fig. 12 and then upwardly as illustrated in Fig. 2 to the completely collapsed position as shown in Fig. 3. Thus it will be observed that the locking means forming part of the embodiment of the back rest serves not only as a secure means for holding the back rest in the open position but also cooperates with the other frame members to form a more rigid structure.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 16 through 18 showing a collapsible chair of the type generally used outdoors. While chairs of the general configuration shown in Fig. 16 are well-known and the operation thereof is evident from the drawings, a detailed description has been deemed unnecessary.

One of the diificulties with collapsible or folding chairs is that the chair will not normally remain in the collapsed position, particularly when carried by the upper portion of the back. For instance, in the case of the chair 40 of Fig. 16, it is folded by moving the seat part 41 upwardly to lie substantially flat against the back 42. After the chair has been used a number of times, the friction between the relatively movable members is insufiicient to hold the seat part 41 in the folded position with the result that it will fall outwardly and downwardly to the open position when the chair is supported by the top portion of the back 42. With this invention, however, the chair can be secured in the folded position and at the same time be afforded added rigidity. For this purpose a transverse bar 43 of resilient material is secured to the chair back 42 in a substantially horizontal position. The center of this bar 43 has a displaced or downwardly bent portion 43' corresponding to the portion 21' of Figs. 1 through 12. The seat 41 of the chair is provided with a transverse bar or rod 44 of resilient material along the outer edge thereof. This bar may be placed in any desirable position along the front of the seat 41 and functions as a stiffening agent for the seat itself. With this arrangement as the chair is moved into its folded or collapsible position as shown in Fig. 17 the bar 44 assumes a position parallel to and slightly below the bar 43 extending crosswise of the back 42. When the chair is in the completely folded position the downwardly bent portion 43' of the member 43 is snapped over the member 44 and functions to hold the chair securely in the collapsed position. In this way the members functioning to secure the chair in the folded position also serve as structural elements for the chair to provide added rigidity.

Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20. In this embodiment, a folding table 50 is provided with a top having a pair of sections 51 and S2 hinged at 53 and adapted to be folded inwardly one of the other. In addition, the table is provided with two sets of legs 54 and 55 hingeably connected to the top sections 51 and 52 adapted to be folded inwardly and retained within their respective top sections. In order to secure the table in the folded position as shown in Fig. 20 one end of the table is provided with a transverse supporting member 56 having an inwardly formed section 56' corresponding to the part 21' of the element 21 in Figs. 1 through 12. The opposite end of the table is provided with a second supporting member 57. When the table is in the folded position the members 56 and 57 are brought into substantial alignment one with the other and the curved portion 56' of the transverse element 56 is snapped over the element 57 as illustrated. In this way the sections 51 and 52 of the table are secured in the collapsed position and the elements 56 and 57 serve as convenient means for carrying the table.

Figure 21 illustrates a modification of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this embodiment, the back rest includes a pair of sloping panels having frames 11 and 12 hinged one to the other at 22 and 23 and covered by a suitable material 60 in the form of a single layer as shown, or in tubular form as shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The member 21 of frame 12 includes a deformed or offset portion 21 for cooperating with the member 17 of frame 11 in the manner heretofore described. An adjustable strap 61 of suitable material is fixedly secured to member 17 and may be removably secured to the member 21 to hold the frames in the open position as illustrated.

While only certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is apparent that changes, alterations and modifications may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of furniture comprising at least three substantially rectangular frame members hinged one to the other for movement of each frame relative to the others, one of said end frames having the outer ends of the outwardly extending frame elements curved upon themselves with the cooperating end element being displaced inwardly of the frame end, and the other of said end frames having its end element formed with a portion thereof displaced from the plane of the remainder of said element whereby the outer end element of said one end frame is adapted to hook about the end element of the other end frame and said displaced portion interlocked with the end element of said one frame to hold the frame ends in engagement one with the other with the frames in a triangular configuration, said displaced portion further cooperating with an element of said central frame when the frame members are folded one upon the others to hold said frames in the folded position.

2. An article of furniture comprising a central rectangularly shaped wire frame, a pair of generally U-shaped frames each having a pair of parallel elements and a transverse element, pivotal connections between the outer ends of each pair of parallel elements of the last said frames and opposing parallel elements of said central frame and cooperating means on the transverse elements of said U-shaped frame members for holding them in engagement one with the other with the frames in a generally triangular configuration, one of said cooperating means being further operable to engage one of said parallel elements of said central frame when the frames are folded one upon the others to hold the frames in the folded position, said cooperating means including a portion of one transverse element formed outwardly from the axis of the remainder thereof and hook-like means on the ends of the other transverse element for at least partially encircling the first said transverse element.

3. A back rest comprising a central frame member having at least one pair of opposing parallel members, a U-shaped frame member having a transverse element and a pair of leg parts, the free ends of said leg parts being pivotally attached to one of said parallel members with said transverse element disposed in substantially parallel relationship to said pair of parallel members, a hooklike portion on each leg part at the joinder of each leg part with said transverse element, and a second U-shaped frame member pivotally secured to the other of said pair of parallel members and having an outer transverse element, the last said element including a portion displaced from the axis of the remainder thereof and lying substantially in the plane of the frame member, the last said element engaging the hook-like portions of the first said transverse element with said displaced portion in engagement with the first said element to hold the two elements in interlocking relationship with the back rest in an open position, and said displaced portion further cooperating with one of said parallel elements when the frame members are folded one upon the others to hold the back rest in the folded position.

4. In an article of furniture foldable into a compact form for carriage and storage and having at least two relatively movable portions, means for holding said article in the folded position comprising a transverse frame element of resilient material on one of said relatively movable portions, and a second transverse frame element on the other of said relatively movable portions, the last said transverse member having a portion displaced from the plane of the remainder thereof, and both of said transverse members being positioned in spaced parallel relationship when said relatively movable portions are in the folded position whereby said displaced portion may be moved into engagement with the first said transverse member to fixedly hold the article in the folded position.

5. A back rest comprising a pair of frame members hinged one to the other for relative movement about a common axis, said frame members being movable from a closed position with one frame overlying the other to an open position defining a triangular configuration, an inwardly projecting member formed on the edge of one frame member for engaging the corresponding edge of the other frame member to hold the two frames in said overlying relationship and means for limiting the outward movement of said frame members to form a triangular back rest.

6. Means for securing a pair of elements one to the other comprising an elongated member having at least two spaced hook-like members with the openings in said hooks facing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said member, a second elongated member carried by the other element and having a portion extending outwardly from a point between the ends thereof, said hooks on the first said member engaging said second mem ber and said outwardly extending portion engaging the first said member to hold the hooks in engagement with the second member to lock said members one to the other, wherein the members are formed of resilient material, said outwardly extending part of said second member is in substantial alignment with the direction of the hook openings and said first member is sprung over said outwardly extending part of the second member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 246,970 Mitchell Sept. 13, 1881 326,564 Hopkins Sept. 22, 1885 488,485 Smith Dec. 20, 1892 569,514 Palmer Oct. 13, 1896 1,581,888 Thomas Apr. 20, 1926 1,605,679 McGrail Nov. 2, 1926 1,799,939 Wainewright et a1. Apr. 7, 1931 1,919,824 Bruning July 25, 1933 2,257,522 Bailey Sept. 30, 1941 2,816,599 Adams Dec. 17, 1957 

